Court allows withdrawal of KSh 7.3b corruption case against Rigathi Gachagua

• DPP Noordin Haji had sought to drop the corruption case against Rigathi Gachagua, citing insufficient evidence provided by the DCI
• Magistrate Victor Wakumile authorized the request but warned Gachagua and his co-defendants that they could be re-arrested in the future.
• Gachagua was facing six counts of conspiracy to commit economic crimes alongside eight other people

An anti-corruption tribunal has cleared a request by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to withdraw the KSh7.3 billion corruption case against Vice President Rigathi Gachagua.

In the application to the Milimani courthouse, DPP Noordin Haji had sought to drop the case citing insufficient evidence provided by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

In a decision issued Thursday, November 10, Magistrate Victor Wakumile granted the request but warned Gachagua and his co-defendants that they could be re-arrested in the future on similar charges.

“In the absence of objection to the substantial request of the Crown to withdraw the case under Section 87A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the request is granted.

“Defendants are hereby warned and advised that they may be re-arrested in the future and on the same or similar charges,” Wakumile said.

proceeds of crime

Gachagua faced six counts conspiracy to commit economic crimes alongside William Mwangi, Anne Nduta, Julianne Jahenda, Samuel Murimi, Grace Wambui, Lawrence Kimaru, Irene Wambui and David Nguru.

The bulk of the charges was in count five, where then MP Mathira was charged with fraudulent acquisition of KSh7.4 billion through his personal accounts at Rafiki Micro-Finance Bank.

The charges stated that between 2013 and 2020, Gachagua had fraudulently received KShs. crimes.

It is alleged that Gachagua defrauded the county government of Nyeri 27.4 million KShs between May 2015 and December 2016.

Gachagua loses KSh202 million to the state

In other news, Gachagua was ordered to waive KSh 202 million in the state.

In a Thursday, July 28 decision, Milimani Court Judge Esther Maina said she had established the money in question was the proceeds of bribery.

Maina argued that the outspoken politician failed to explain how he acquired the wealth from government agencies, as reported.

Gachagua had claimed to have made money through the awarding of contracts, but the judge said the deputy had not provided any documentation proving he had a contract with the state.

Source: TUKO.co.ke